By Dr. Reese Halter, Source: Huffington Post

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society christened its latest research vesse  in Marina Del Rey, Calif. naming it after award-winning actor and ocean activist Martin Sheen.

Martin Sheen has campaigned for 25 years with Sea Shepherd and long-time friend and founder of the movement Captain Paul Watson. These two intrepid warriors have stood shoulder-to-shoulder opposing brutal bludgeoning of Harp seals along Canada’s eastern seaboard.

Sheen told me that, “It’s a huge honor and privilege to have a research ship named after me. The biggest risk and danger to the world today are plastics in our oceans. The RV Martin Sheen will conduct scientific research on ocean plastics to protect our oceans and all its sealife.”

Sheen agreed that it’s imperative that all nations globally work hand in hand to prevent over 20 million tons of land-based plastics each year from entering our oceans and being eaten by fish, and suffocating a hundred thousand marine mammals and a million sea birds.

Sheen joins Brigitte Bardot, Bob Barker, Steve Irwin and Sam Simon in an elite class of Hollywood stars, conservationists and television executives who support Sea Shepherd and have vessels named in their honor.

See the full article at: Huffington Post